Auckland, November 11th. 1870. My dear Sir, Would you kindly interest yourself in procuring me a licence as native interpreter, if you would be so good I should feel very thankful.' I think you should visit this province son. Ohinemuri could be opened if you could get a painstaking native speaker - Mr. J. White from being well known and respected among the Natives could, I feel confident, bring the Ohinemuri question to a succesful issue, by purchasing or leasing the whole auriferous lands in that district. Would you kindly furnish me with instructions with reference to getting a large block surveyed on which subject I wrote to you some time since, but as yet have not received any answer. We require to act at once and promptly in this matter while the Natives are short for money and food. The Ngatikoes who wished to sell some portion of their auriferous lands. They were going to offer it to the Superintendent but I directed them to offer it to your govt. and I believe they have written to you on the subject. It is in the Owharoa Block on the road to the E. Coast and contains 3 or 4,000 acres. I believe the Ngatikoes have applied for a rehearing of the Waihi block of land that has just been passed through the Lands Court. I think the Government should grant them a rehearing seeing that the Native assessor acted very wrongly in that matter and in other claims throughout, A man that drinks and discussed the decision of the Court with any claimant is not fit for an assessor in any Court. The Ngatikoes think that it is very unjust for them who have held the lands from their grandfathers up to the present should only be granted a paltry 15 acres out of 1870 acres it appears to them more like an insult; if the land had been equally divided it would not have appeared so injust, but I think myself a great injustice has been done to them. If a rehearing is not granted now they will not rest till they have justice done. I have advized them to hand over their blocks of surveyed lands to your Government so that they might them rest sure that you would see justice done them. Some men are still working in the ranges and are getting a little gold which some say is alluvial gold. I think your government should try and purchase the Aroha block and get the Rati Rati boundary survey it would all conduce to the opening up and settlement of the back country. Ohinemuri has been so long delayed and I have just spent so much money on trying to get it opened that it has ruined me for a time. I have been forced to file my schedule, but I hope to soon get over my troubles - hence my troubling you about the interpreter however if you require another interpreter to recommend me I can get plenty to do so. Would kindly forward me a reply and let me know what I can do to assist your Govt. in anything. Trusting I will soon have the pleasure of seeing you in Auckland and that you are in the enjoyment of good health, I am, dear Sir, Faithfully yours, John W. Thorp.